Housebuilder supports Hook Norton school plans

Hook Norton CoE Primary School in Sibford Road has launched an exciting new expansion project to create three new classrooms to meet growing demand from local families.

The expansion is being funded through planning contributions provided by Taylor Wimpey, who are currently building new homes at its nearby Bourne View development along with other housing developers in the area

However, the £20,000 cost of a new National Curriculum-mandated outdoor area for Foundation Stage pupils is falling solely on the school – so Taylor Wimpey has stepped in to provide additional support with a £2,000 donation.

Stella Belgrove, headteacher, explains that a well-equipped, safe and landscaped outdoor learning area is vital to modern teaching.

She said: “Outdoor areas are used for all kinds of lessons, such as story time (literacy), raised beds for gardening (maths and science), sandpits and climbing frames (PE), and there has to be equal access to indoors and outdoors learning now.

“We are so very grateful for Taylor Wimpey’s kind £2,000 donation at a time when school budgets are extremely tight. It’s great that they are willing to invest in the community and support local education.”

The Foundation Stage is made up of the school’s youngest pupils from both the Nursery and Reception classes. The well-regarded school is just a short walk from Bourne View, and was rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted in its most recent inspection.

The Foundation Stage’s current outdoor area will be lost as it forms part of the land where the new classrooms will be built.

Nikki Gibson, sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey Oxfordshire, said: “We are always committed to supporting the communities in which we build our quality new homes and we are especially delighted to support Hook Norton CE Primary School as they are such near neighbours to our Bourne View development.

“The school’s new outdoor area is a very worthy project and no doubt some of our growing families at Bourne View will get to reap the rewards of these new facilities in the years to come!”

A selection of three and four-bedroom homes currently available to purchase at Taylor Wimpey’s Bourne View development start from £278,000.

Visit www.taylorwimpey.co.uk for more information.